Conservative or Liberal, Deist or Pagan, Jersey transplant or Lehigh Valley native, we're all in this mess together. Let's talk. Let us do no harm. Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Who Will Get Bob Donchez' Council Seat?

Willie Reynolds probably has the votes to install whomever he wants to fill Bob Donchez' seat on City Council.. My guess it will be someone in his mold, progressive and young. ... And inexperienced. Here are some of the names being tossed around. There may be more.

1) Ron Heckman. - My guess is that Ron, who is deliberative and amiable and well-versed in local government, will be viewed as too old (and too independent).

2) Basilio Bonilla.- If you want someone who will miss half your meetings and can barely put two sentences together, Basilio's your man, as long as he's there to say Yes when needed.

3) Christen Borso. - She's just thrilled to have finished 9th out of 10 candidates for County Council and thinks she's a force. On her Facebook page, she warns, "Vote Purple is no where near finished and there will be some surprises right around the corner!" She has no chance.

4) Adrian Shanker. - This LGBT activist has all the right connections, and worked hard for Willie. I think he gets it if he asks for it. Anyone who votes against him runs the risk of being called a homophobe.

5) Chris Morales. - He's young enough, and nearly won in November's race. But he belongs to the wrong party.

Word on the street is Jim G has a blog coming out that will shift the landscape of Bethlehem politics forever, UnityPAC has been dormant but the sleeping Grizzly bear will wake soon and Booby D will have to answer to the "Mouth that roared"!

Jim Gregory served on city council and was President of council. He correctly called and helped the county executive winner. He is a political force to be reckoned with. He will be running for the position when he is no longer being detained.I think he should be appointed. No one can doubt his knowledge and love of the city.

Bernie, Ms. Borso would be a logical choice as she came in 9th and that's ok I might come in ----negative 9th . She probably has to PAY TAXES and fill in permits and buy things like INSURANCE . That is good enough.

I went back and checked my remarks. I never called her comments disgusting, yet you are quoting me as having done so. I took offense to her charge that Bethlehem is a Catholic town and the necessarily implication that Catholics get special treatment. She was wrong on both counts .

Bernie , I would escape the heat at Parris Island,SC.during Marine Corps boot camp on Sunday by going to Catholic church because they had 'air conditioning'in that building.They were all nice people. Whats wrong with Catholics ,there fine in my estimation.But.. That how brutal things were there then.Sorry about typos ,my wife's 7 year old Dell is missing teeth.

The Donchez transition team is heavily influenced by his co-campaign chairman Sen. Boscola. Her husband Ed is on it, and will be the new Dir. of Public Works and of all people Alicia Karner is on it and will be the new Economic Development Director.

Fortunately for Karner, Sen. Boscola, her old boss, intervened and got her a job with Donchez.

Karner was a big time Callahan insider and major campaigner who was his top pick for county Economic Development. Fortunately the Republicans know better.

So now Donchez will have the ultimate Callahan insider, inside his cabinet. Good luck with that Bob. Surprised Morganelli is alright with that.

The biggest rap on Karner is she is almost as arrogant as Callahan. Bob Donchez is a decent amiable, low key guy. Some folks question whether her in your face approach will mesh well in his Admisntration.

As far as the Dems who ran for County Council mentioned here. I just looked at the NorCo election results, and if I wrote them all down, I added the totals for the three in the 27 precincts, and came up with:

Hunter 3,038 votesHeckman 2,955 votesBorso 2,928 votes

Considering its a Dem city, if Kelly indicates he's interested for some reason (?) I am sure its his. If not interested, I would think Hunter would be a natural choice of those mentioned,thus far, though Shanker does have some pulling for him, too. Depends what they are looking for, activism or experience.

Re 9:07, from her campaigning, I do not think she would be the type to want to cause such division within the Dems, and she's way too pragmatic to think unions and their money would abandon Kraft. There shouldn't be a rift on that front.

I enjoy reading your blog and am familiar with "the lighthouse" and his observations. I have followed with Greta interest the Northampton County races. I also know some of the players.

I am unsure what "the lighthouse's" point is?? He seems to have a hardon for Ms. Hunter, as he has pushed this type of thing for months.By his own figures all three Hunter, Heckman and Borzo have the numbers to be considered for the Bethlehem seat. As to "experience", he points out Hunter as opposed to Shankar's "activism." What experience? In a uber taxing Nazareth school District. Hunter is an ultra liberal tax and spend Democrat. Borzo has as much experience as Hunter.

Hunter should run against Kraft because she would win. So would Borzo but Borzo is Krafts creation and won't go for it. The Kraft connection screwed over Hunter in the primary and the general and she knows it.So once again "the lighthouse" is confusing.

The Kraft-McClure-Dertinger crowed may have played their games during the County race, however, to be vindictive in the kind of way advocated by Terry M doesn't seem to be in Hunter's style from what I have seen of her, nor necessarily in the best interest of the Dem party. I perceive her as interested in good government, not for any personal power trip nor game playing. But, if you really want to know, I guess you'd have to ask her, and not my observations.

I understand that Adrian S has been a strong ally of rising force Reynolds, however, I am not aware (correct me if wrong) of him holding public office(elected or appointed) that would give some practical experience to lessen any curve on City Council and hit the ground running. Activists have their strengths in mobilizing people and advocating causes, and he has helped candidates--I believe even Ms. Hunter-- but that doesn't always translate with the give and take of governing. He may indeed be suited for Council. However, my point was that Hunter was on the Naz School Board (before all these taxes Terry, and another during the County campaign, raise). That required learning and understanding the complexities and nuances of large multi-million dollar public budgets. She was also on the County Authority that had to develop the by-laws and implement the dispersal of millions of dollars of casino funds to municipalities. Finally, she was on the new COB Human Relations Board before stepping down to run for the County. I think she has the experience to be an effective team player on City Council. When it comes to fiscal decisions, I do not see her as an "ultra liberal tax and spend Democrat." I wouldn't support her if I did.

Kelly, I agree would be hard to refuse if he wants it. Heckman, I always associated with the County and Human Services. The others I just don't see as able to be as effective, contributing, good government types that can fit in and fairly play with the varying dynamics on Council. And "young and moldable" reads, "yes man/woman" in my eyes.

Quite honestly, not even sure Hunter would want it, but I think she is qualified enough to be at least considered.

As an insider in city council, these blog posts are about 90% hilarious nonsense. Anonymous posters just make this stuff up! Joe Kelly and a Latino woman and Dolan's pick and Shanker are each a shoe-in. Huh? Guess what? No one on council knows who will be chosen because unlike the fantasies of the paranoids and know-it-alls who dominate the posts here, there is no "fix." No sides chosen. No cliques. Believe it or not, Bethlehem's legislative branch is a democracy. An imperfect one, but functioning, and happy about it. But, that's a good thing, so the anonymous bloggers will tell you it can't be true. It's hilarious, unless you believe it.

To Anon 10:52, to clarify Bernie's response; Any Bethlehem citizen can apply for the open seat on council. In fact, the woman Dolan has been "shopping around" has no political experience at all. She's what you might call a "citizen," a finance professional but a total unknown, so probably this potential appointee will go nowhere, swallowed up by Deb, Joe, Olga, Adrian, Ron, Lump, blah blah and the others who are more political.

Bernie, it is only a TWO YEAR appointment, Bobs council seat expires in December 31, 2015 so they are filling it for his remaining term of 23 months (filled for February 1st)

It is open to ANY citizen from Bethlehem and they will accept resumes' and they get a ton of them. then they get vetted at a meeting and stand up and address council as to why they should be picked, council votes and we now have a new member

It would be in the best interest of Reynolds and Richutti to pick someone that would be a strong candidate for re-election. That would discourage and challenge in the primary two years from now, when those three seats are up. Someone who can raise money but won't piss off Donchez enough that he puts up a candidate. As he did in this election with the Melnick campaign.

So Bethlehem isn't a Catholic Town? How soon we forget.Don't you remember when the City used to send the snow removal over to Saint Anne's Catholic Church to plow all the snow for the priests? The protestants paid the bill as wel as all the other religious denominations. The picture of the snow removal was on the front pages of the newspapers.

There is the old trick. Put in someone to get a head start on the election. it is not a "reelection" if they were never elected to begin with. I predict there will be a vigorous campaign for the seat no matter what.

Which ever puppet Reynolds puts in to fight Donchez will be challenged.

The Lighthouse suggests that he either wants Queen hunter(a Dolan clone) or Shanker's wanker(power bottom).We shall see. At the end of the day, most observers believe the pick will be orchestrated by Wee Wille Reynolds.

If the Hispanic woman Jennings and Dolan are pushing gets the appointment you can expect about ten people running in 2015. Willie would be safe but his butt buddy Richutti cheese could have problems in he primary. A strong candidate but not super strongis needed. Also no more political ladder climbers. Room at the top 8is getting crowded.

We could use a Morales or even a Lump on council. Both are small businessmen and our downtown areas both north and south are going to need small business friendly thinking moving forward if we are going to survive. The two hospitals and the Sands can't carry all the weight. The self employed, independent contractor and small business revenue generator needs to be strong. Council needs those who don't think of taking over profitable private sector activity - think trash hauling - but make it grow.